The Syriac Orthodox Church celebrate the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary today (March 25th). We have a tradition that I believe is only done in our Church where we put on a so called "siboro" around our wrist. This "siboro" consists of a white thread and a red thread winded (I hope this is a real word) around each other.

When Virgin Mary became pregnant the Divine nature (God the Word; the white thread) united with the human nature (the red thread) which God the Word took from Virgin Mary through the holy Spirit's action. One Nature was formed, etc. You know the drill.

We wear the "siboro" from March 25th (the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary) until Easter Monday (or Easter Day) when we clip it off and burn it.

« Last Edit: March 25, 2013, 04:49:54 PM by Suryoyutho »

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The Tur Abdin Timeline - A timeline of Tur Abdin (Syriac for "the Mountain of the Servants [of God]"), the heartland of the Syriac Orthodox Christians, a hilly region located in upper Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates.

Romanians and Bulgarians have a similar folk custom. It's not connected to the Feast of Annunciation, though:

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Mărțișor, marț and mărțiguș are all names for the red and white string from which a small decoration is tied, and which is offered by people on the 1st day of March. Giving this talisman to people is an old custom, and it is believed that the one who wears the red and white string will be strong and healthy for the year to come. It is also a symbol of the coming spring. Usually, both women and men wear it pinned to their clothes, close to the heart, until the last day of March, when they tie it to the branches of a fruit-tree.

Thank you all, interesting that something similar is used for other things. I don't know when this tradition started in our Church but it's at least older than my parents.

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The Tur Abdin Timeline - A timeline of Tur Abdin (Syriac for "the Mountain of the Servants [of God]"), the heartland of the Syriac Orthodox Christians, a hilly region located in upper Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates.